Buying guide for best Samsung tablets
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Samsung makes some of the best Android tablets on the market. From compact, handy devices for note-taking or watching video on the go, to monster-sized behemoths crammed with capabilities, Samsung tablets set a standard for Android devices and stand up to non-Android competitors like iPads and Surface PCs. If you want a tablet that can replace your laptop, the best Samsung tablets combine top-notch displays, super powerful processors, extra Samsung-only features and excellent battery life.
Samsung’s tablets are all branded Galaxy Tab to go with its lineup of Galaxy phones and computers. The first model, the Galaxy Tab 7, debuted in 2010. The flagship-level S series launched in 2014 (and has been updated roughly every year since) and was followed by the entry-level A series in 2015. Samsung also has a rugged line of tablets, the Galaxy Tab Active series, available for business customers.
To find out what Samsung’s tablets are capable of, the BestReviews Testing Lab sent me several models to test, including one from each of the three Galaxy Tab series. After spending weeks pushing these tablets to their limits, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ came out on top as the best all-around Samsung tablet, with a good balance of screen size, laptop-class performance and portability. For budget-conscious buyers, the low-cost and convenient Galaxy A9+ is excellent.
Which Samsung tablet is best?
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+
Best of the Best
Display Size: 12.4” | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Storage Options: 256GB, 512GB | Battery Life: 9 hr, 21 min (tested) | Operating System: Android 14
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ is a powerful and elegant tablet that’s capable enough to replace a notebook computer for executives, artists and anyone who’s willing to pay for its performance.
A major plus is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, which really impressed me. It powered through all the tasks I set for it, from multiple browser tabs to business productivity to high-end games, without any lag or issues.
The S9+’s screen is big enough for side-by-side windows in landscape orientation and gives plenty of space for media or productivity apps as well as gaming. The high 120-hertz refresh rate made it a pleasure to interact with its sharp, clear, brilliant AMOLED screen. And I was equally impressed by the four AKG-tuned speakers, which created immersive audio to go with video watching.
As I tested the S9+, I particularly enjoyed using its included S-Pen, whose soft nub and deep, system-wide integration made handwriting recognition and note-taking practically seamless.
About the only real drawback to the S9+ is its higher price, which puts it directly in competition with the notebooks it can easily replace. Its combination of a large 12.4-inch screen and a powerful processor make it the best overall Samsung tablet, earning it a score of 5 out of 5.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+
Best Bang for the Buck
Display Size: 11” | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 | Storage Options: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB | Battery Life: 8 hr (tested) | Operating System: Android 14
At first glance, the Galaxy Tab A9+ doesn’t look impressive among Samsung tablets. It’s got an older processor and a screen that appears a little shabby. But after using it, I realized it was more useful than I thought and more enjoyable than I expected.
An affordable, capable midsized Android tablet, the A9+ has an 11-inch LCD screen that at first showed some theater-lighting artifacts at the edge, and its colors were off compared to other Samsungs I tested.
However, it didn’t take me long to discover that the display’s 90-hertz refresh rate made it feel more fluid and responsive than I expected, especially considering the midrange Snapdragon 695 processor that powers it. I also appreciated the built-in filters and modes of the otherwise unremarkable camera system as well as its four-speaker sound system capable of Dolby Atmos.
Despite its slower specs, the A9+ ran Call of Duty Mobile at a perfectly good speed and frame rate. But multitasking was mostly out of the question, and the processor and low 4 gigabytes of RAM did slow down under stress. It also lacks an S-Pen and, shockingly, doesn’t have a front camera. Still, it gets a score of 3.5 out of 5 for being a solid tablet at an appealing price.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+
Everyday Performance
Display Size: 12.4” | Processor: Samsung Exynos 1380 | Storage Options: 128GB, 256GB | Battery Life: 14 hr, 40 min (tested) | Operating System: Android 14
Samsung’s FE-branded devices make a few compromises to their S-series designs in order to deliver good performance at lower price points. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ exemplifies this strategy by providing the size and many of the features of the S9+ at a more moderate cost.
A good third device if you’ve already got a computer and a smartphone, the S9 FE+ has a TFT LCD screen that’s the same 12.4 inches as the S9+, so you’ve got as much screen real estate to enjoy.
The screen quality was sharp, vivid and responsive during my testing. It was good for watching cinematic videos in landscape mode and fluid with a 90-hertz refresh rate. The Samsung-made Exynos 1380 processor could pause now and then under stress but otherwise performed admirably.
Most impressively, the S9 FE+ lasted 14 hours and 40 minutes of mixed use, the longest of any Samsung tablet I tested. I also liked the photo quality captured by its front and rear cameras. Overall, it’s a quality device worthy of a score of 4 out of 5.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
Feature-packed
Display Size: 14.6” | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Storage Options: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | Battery Life: 9 to 10 hr (estimated) | Operating System: Android 14
Perhaps the biggest screen on any tablet comes with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra. It’s an extra-large tablet with some of the best specs Samsung has to offer for people who want a tablet that could put their desktop to shame.
Like our top pick, the S9 Ultra is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor with 12GB of RAM standard for powering through heavy workflows, and it can even be purchased with 16GB of RAM and 1 terabyte of built-in storage.
Its 11,200 mAh battery is the biggest among Samsung tablets as well, although the sheer size of its screen may take up most of the extra juice it can provide.
That screen is a whopper, 14.6 diagonal inches of Dynamic AMOLED glory, with all the quality — infinite contrast, true blacks, individually lit pixels, fast response times — that comes with an OLED screen. With four AKG-tuned, Dolby Atmos-capable speakers, the S9 Ultra is almost like a flatscreen TV for your lap, which you can also do all your work on. It earns a score of 4.5 out of 5.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2024)
Customer Favorite
Display Size: 10.4” | Processor: Samsung Exynos 1280 | Storage Options: 64GB, 128GB | Battery Life: 12 hr (estimated) | Operating System: Android 14
Sometimes, a company hits upon a device that just does things so dependably that it sticks around longer than expected. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is one of those devices. The S6 generation came from 2020, but the S6 Lite is alive and kicking with a 2024 refresh.
The S6 Lite lacks some bells and whistles compared to later-generation Samsung tablets. Its LCD screen has a 60-hertz refresh rate, which is solid — non-pro iPhones, for example, still have this refresh rate — but not as fluid as what the cheaper A9+ offers. It also has only two stereo speakers and cameras that, at 8 and 5 MP, lag behind expectations.
However, the S6 Lite has lasted because it’s a great fit for a small but reliable tablet. It comes with an S-Pen and is ideal for taking notes at meetings, in class or on the go. Its Snapdragon 720 processor is almost as fast as the 695 on the A9+ and is capable of up to 14 hours of video playback. One of the handiest tablets Samsung has ever made, it earns a score of 4 out of 5.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ Kids Edition
Best for Families
Display Size: 11” | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 | Storage Options: 64GB | Battery Life: 14 hr (estimated) | Operating System: Android 14
Tablets made for kids can be glorified toys that last about as long as a toy would and won’t be able to do more than play a few learning games. The best thing about the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ Kids Edition is that it’s exactly the same as the A9+ for adults, just with fun extras designed for kids.
Those extras include a soft-sided, grippy Puffy Cover with built-in stand in three bright colors that can be removed when your kid, or you, decide they’ve outgrown it.
The A9+ Kids Edition also includes three crayon-shaped Crayo-Pen styluses that safely tether to the tablet’s USB-C port.
Inside is the same A9+, with Snapdragon 695 processor, quad speakers and an 11-inch screen. Earning a score of 3.5 out of 5, it’s a great choice for a family tablet everyone can use.
How the best Samsung tablets were tested
I tested Samsung tablets according to several categories, including ease of setup, build quality, display, battery life, performance, camera and speakers. Using real-world circumstances, I watched videos, browsed the web, played games and more, and conducted data-driven testing for various specifications.
- Setup: This included timing how long it took to set up a Samsung tablet, including any software updates or user account creation needed, and judging how difficult it would be for the average user to do.
- Display: To test the display, I looked at how the screen performed in direct sunlight, indoor daylight and nighttime, as well as brightness measured in nits and color accuracy as determined by a smartphone colorimeter app. Evaluations of sharpness, detail and user experience were also conducted.
- Battery life: I evaluated how long it took to go from 100% charge to shut down, with mixed usage and in a video-playback-only test as well as how long it took to charge from zero to full.
- Performance: I judged how smooth and capable the system performed under stress, using a variety of apps and scenarios, including gaming, video editing and productivity.
- Camera and speakers: I evaluated photo and video quality from rear and front speakers (when present), including video chat and conferencing, as well as sound quality in music, video calling and video playback.
- Build: Flex tests were conducted to check for bending or flimsiness, plus ergonomic tests for usage in hand or on a table or lap, including using the onscreen keyboard, in portrait and landscape orientations.
- Software: I also tested the utility of Samsung’s included apps and Samsung’s OneUI compared to Google’s apps and Android alone.
Samsung tablet features
Displays
Samsung’s tablets use two types of display technology: OLED and LCD.
Older and lower-priced models use backlit TFT (thin film transistor) LCDs with differing degrees of quality, from the adequate to the impressive.
Higher-end Samsung tablets, such as models in the S series, boast AMOLED (active matrix OLED) displays, which, like other OLED displays, have individually lit pixels that allow for true blacks, infinite contrast ratios, and fast response.
Screen size
When it comes to screen size and tablets, bigger is often — but not always — better. A big screen can immerse you in whatever you’re looking at and provide plenty of space for apps, including multitasking. But a big-screen tablet is hard to hold in hand and usually needs to be set on a table or stand. Smaller screens increase a tablet’s portability at the expense of display area. Samsung tablets have screen sizes ranging from a compact and convenient 10.4 inches to a whopping 14.6 inches.
Resolution
Resolution refers to how many pixels a screen has, and measures how much a display can show and how sharp it is. Android and Windows screens use terms like VGA, WGA, XGA and more to describe their resolution. Samsung tablets have resolutions ranging from 1920 by 1200 pixels (WUXGA) to 2560 by 1600 (WQXGA) to 2960 by 1848 (WQXGA+). A high resolution with a tablet-sized screen means an image with sharp text and smooth edges.
Refresh rate
A display’s refresh rate refers to how fast the picture is refreshed. The higher the refresh rate, the smoother things like scrolling and other screen movement seems. Samsung tablets, including several low-end models, have refresh rates between 60 and 120 hertz, which is as fast or faster than some rival brands. High-end models in the S series offer adaptive refresh rates that climb as high as 120 hertz for impressively smooth scrolling and screen movement.
Our top picks: Displays
- The 14.6-inch screen of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is one of the biggest available on any tablet, and it’s got the dazzling sharpness and detail of an AMOLED screen.
- The 12.4-inch LCD screen of the Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ proved sharp, vivid, fast and capable during testing.
- The 11-inch LCD screen on the Galaxy Tab A9+ was mostly only serviceable, but surprised with a 90-hertz refresh rate like higher-end models, making it scroll smoother than other low-cost Android tablets.
Battery and power
Battery life
Samsung tablets use built-in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries like most other portable devices. Samsung likes to describe the capacity of its batteries in milliamp hours (mAh) rather than in how many hours they last. The smaller the tablet, the smaller the physical size of the battery, which usually means a lower capacity. The batteries of Samsung tablets have capacities ranging from 7,040 to 11,200 mAh. Note that advances in software design and how you use your device matter as much as capacity or more when determining your Samsung tablet’s battery life.
Fast charging
Fast charging comes in handy when you don’t have time to leave your tablet for several hours. The Galaxy Tab S9 series can fast charge with an adapter of at least 45 watts and a compatible USB-C cable. Samsung tablets don’t come with high-wattage chargers, but you may be able to use a USB-C charger made for your laptop, as those tend to have the required wattage.
Our top picks: Battery life
- The Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ lasted more than 14 hours in a mixed-usage test, the longest of the Samsung tablets we looked at
- The S9+ lasted over nine hours of mixed use and 16 hours with the screen off.
- The S9 Ultra has the biggest battery capacity of a Samsung tablet at 11,2000 mAh.
Wireless connection
Wi-Fi only vs. cellular models
All Samsung tablets have Wi-Fi. Newer or flagship-level models, such as the S series, support the latest Wi-Fi versions, such as Wi-Fi 6E, while older or lower-powered tablets use older protocols, such as Wi-Fi 5.
Some Samsung tablets — but not all — have versions with built-in cellular connectivity and Wi-Fi. This comes in handy when there’s no Wi-Fi network nearby, but it slightly increases cost and weight, and uses more battery power. Not every Samsung tablet has a cellular version, and you need to pay for a cellular data plan.
USB port
Samsung tablets use USB ports for charging and connectivity. Beginning in 2017, Samsung started using USB-C connectors on its devices, making them compatible with any USB-C charging cable and power supply and a large number of USB-C accessories. You can plug most flash drives with USB-C directly into the port of a Samsung tablet.
Bluetooth and accessories
With one USB-C port and an occasional headphone port, Samsung tablets use Bluetooth to connect wirelessly to accessories and other devices. Recent models from the A and S series all support Bluetooth 5, from 5.1 to 5.3. You can connect wireless keyboards, mice, speakers and headphones to a Samsung tablet via Bluetooth.
Operating system
Android OS and One UI
Samsung tablets run on the Android operating system overlaid with Samsung’s OneUI interface. OneUI gives Samsung tablets a branded, consistent look on top of the base Android OS, and makes possible special interoperability features with Samsung Galaxy phones and devices.
Samsung promises that S-series devices made after 2019 will support four generations of Android and five years of security updates, while some A-series and older S-series tablets support three generations.
App compatibility and multitasking
Samsung tablets offer Samsung’s DeX mode, which transforms the tablet interface into one resembling a Windows desktop, with multiple app or document windows and a mouse cursor, as well as output via cable or wireless connection to a TV or other display. DeX mode benefits from powerful processors and can bog down on smaller, slower tablets. Samsung tablets support most tablet apps found on the Google Play Store as well as on Samsung’s own app store, both of which are preinstalled.
Performance
Processor
Samsung tablets use power-saving ARM-based processors made by Qualcomm, MediaTek or Samsung itself. Flagship S-series models get top processors like the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, while Samsung Exynos chips or older Snapdragons power budget-priced, entry-level and FE-series tablets.
RAM
Samsung tablets have between 4 and 12 megabytes of RAM or memory. The greater the RAM, the faster and more capable the tablet. RAM in Samsung tablets is connected to their processors and can’t be upgraded. The A9 line and S6 Lite have 4GB of memory, the S9 FE line 8GB and the top-line S9 line up to 12GB.
Storage
Apps and documents take up local storage, even if you regularly work with the cloud. Storing files and documents locally also helps you keep going when your network is slow or nonexistent, such as for watching movies on a plane that lacks fast Wi-Fi. Samsung tablets have between 64 and 512GB of built-in storage, with one terabyte capacities available on the top models. Additionally, Samsung tablets, like most Android tablets, allow you to expand your storage by inserting a MicroSD card.
Audio quality
Stereo speakers
Samsung’s tablets have two to four speakers, and many models are tuned by Samsung’s subsidiary AKG. While limited by the thinness of the tablet form factor, especially when it comes to bass, Samsung tablet speakers can provide good stereo separation and imaging and support 3D audio technologies like Dolby Atmos.
Our top picks: Stereo speakers
- The Galaxy Tab S9+ comes with four AKG-tuned speakers, which provided impressive sound in our testing despite how thin the tablet is.
- The A9+ also has four speakers, a surprising plus for a low-cost model.
Headphone jack
Some Samsung tablets still come with a 3.5-millimeter headphone jack. Having a physical headphone jack makes it convenient to plug in wired headphones or an aux cable to a speaker system.
FAQ
Q. Can I use a real keyboard with my Samsung tablet?
A. You have a few options for typing on a physical keyboard when entering data onto a tablet. Perhaps the easiest approach is to purchase an external keyboard and attach it via Bluetooth or to the USB port on the tablet.
Q. What’s the best way to back up data from my tablet?
A. Most Samsung tablets allow you to set up automatic backups through your Google account. However, you can also make backup copies of your data yourself by connecting the Samsung tablet to a flash drive that supports USB-C.
Q. How can I gain more storage space on the Samsung tablet?
A. Samsung tablets allow you to add storage space via a removable memory card. You can also gain more storage space on your Samsung tablet by uninstalling apps that you’re no longer using. This will give you more space to download new apps. As with a computer, you can delete your old files on the tablet to free up space, such as old spreadsheets, photographs or videos.
Q. How can I conserve battery life with the tablet?
A. If your tablet’s battery power seems to be running low, you can conserve battery by entering Power Saving Mode. You also can turn down the brightness of the screen to save battery power. Turning off the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity prolongs the battery life, too. Some apps make use of a lot of battery power, especially those that deliver constant notifications, so you can disable or close those apps.
Our expertise
Jmar Gambol has been covering the latest tech for BestReviews since 2021. He has personally tested several Samsung tablets, including three Galaxy Tab series tablets, and he regularly uses a tablet, mostly as a secondary device.
